Line about 'Stonewall and Selma and Seneca Falls' was from Obama's 2012 Barnard commencement speech

[Tx4obama]

Obama's Inaugural Address 'One Of The Hardest Speeches I've Written,' Jon Favreau Says

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The lines about gay rights -- and, in particular, the reference to the 1969 Stonewall Riots – were more complicated additions, but still, ultimately, an easy call.

"Up until the weekend before the speech we hadn't thought that Stonewall would be such a big deal," said Favreau. "We had just come from this campaign where we talked about gay rights all the time. The line about Stonewall and Selma and Seneca Falls was actually in the commencement speech he gave at Barnard (in 2012). And so we brought it back for this because it hadn't gotten much attention at all."

"We knew we wanted to pay tribute to (Martin Luther) King in some way. So it kind of fit right there," he added. "Before he gave the speech, I'm like, I actually think this is going make some news because it's probably the first time a president has mentioned the word "gay" or "Stonewall" in an inaugural speech."

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Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/obamas-inaugural-address-jon-favreau_n_2545236.html

Excerpt below from Obama's May 2012 Barnard speech transcript...

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So whether it’s starting a business, or running for office, or raising a amazing family, remember that making your mark on the world is hard. It takes patience. It takes commitment. It comes with plenty of setbacks and it comes with plenty of failures.

But whenever you feel that creeping cynicism, whenever you hear those voices say you can’t make a difference, whenever somebody tells you to set your sights lower — the trajectory of this country should give you hope. Previous generations should give you hope. What young generations have done before should give you hope. Young folks who marched and mobilized and stood up and sat in, from Seneca Falls to Selma to Stonewall, didn’t just do it for themselves; they did it for other people. (Applause.)

That’s how we achieved women’s rights. That’s how we achieved voting rights. That’s how we achieved workers’ rights. That’s how we achieved gay rights. (Applause.) That’s how we’ve made this Union more perfect. (Applause.)

And if you’re willing to do your part now, if you’re willing to reach up and close that gap between what America is and what America should be, I want you to know that I will be right there with you. (Applause.) If you are ready to fight for that brilliant, radically simple idea of America that no matter who you are or what you look like, no matter who you love or what God you worship, you can still pursue your own happiness, I will join you every step of the way. (Applause.)

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Full text here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/obamas-barnard-commencement-speech--text/2012/05/14/gIQAnZtPPU_blog.html

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Variations of that line go back to at least 2008

"In June, 2008, Michelle Obama came to Manhattan's Waldorf Astoria for a fundraiser with wealthy gay Democrats and spoke of civil rights struggles "from Selma to Stonewall."
Discussed on DU here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8459679

It is still very important that he said this in the context of the Inauguration for many reasons including the fact that in spite of the use of the phrase and imagery for so long, many times on DU folks who claim to be huge Obama supporters have lectured others that Stonewall and Selma just do not equate in any way, they are not related 'Stonewall doesn't count '. Two recent threads in which I was ripped to bits for saying what Obama said to the world.
The denigration of Stonewall on DU has had me steaming for sometime now. I was grateful to the President for schooling his ardents along with the nation.

[geek tragedy]

3. Only a profound ignoramus would claim there were no parallels between Stonewall and Selma.

Exactly the same? No two historical events are. But certainly, as foundational moments in civil rights history, they share parallels.

[great white snark]

4. Any links that verify your assertions?

I'm trying to find threads where the "ardents" argue that Stonewall doesn't count. Not disbelieving you I'd just like to see the arguments used to rationalize. Thanks for any help.

[Paladin]

2. That's Too Good A Line To Only Use Once.

I'm glad it finally got the attention it deserved.